The Blockbuster Trade Idea: Philadelphia 76ers Create A 'Big 3' Superteam, Brooklyn Nets Start A Serious Rebuilding Process
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Kevin Durant, who has routinely ranked among the league's most unstoppable players since his freshman season, is without a doubt one of the best offensive players of his time. Because the former Oklahoma City Thunder star can always produce the shot he wants, Durant is one of the best offensive talents we have ever seen. Of course, Durant has consistently been a walking bucket with a career average of 27.2 PPG on 49.6% FG, 38.4% 3-PT FG, and 88.4% FT.
Kevin Durant would never be used as trade bait, regardless of the package that was available during any given season. The four-time scoring champion is one of the top three players in the world right now, even as he approaches age 34, and is capable of leading an offense by himself. Right now, Durant is, without a doubt, the best scorer in the world, and he has consistently displayed top shooting and shot-creation skills. Naturally, when Durant made the decision to join Kyrie Irving with the Brooklyn Nets, it was assumed that they would win at least one title.
But Kevin Durant has been negatively influenced by the Brooklyn Nets’ season because they barely made the playoffs and were swept by the young Boston Celtics in the first round. As a result, the Nets are in the mix to trade their superstar Kevin Durant for a chance to rebuild their title hopes with the likes of Ben Simmons still on the roster. The team that could give them the best possible package is none other than the Philadelphia 76ers, a team that already has two superstars in Joel Embiid and James Harden.
The 76ers re-signed James Harden and still have a top-two MVP candidate in Embiid on the roster under head coach Doc Rivers. Philadelphia is looking for ways to continue to build their roster because there are legitimately 6 or 7 title contenders next year. No doubt about it, Kevin Durant is a game-changer for the 76ers, and they must go after KD by striking an incredible deal to change the NBA. Here is the trade package that could be offered and why this works for both teams.
Trade Package: Tobias Harris, Tyrese Maxey, Matisse Thybulle, 2024 First-Round Pick, 2029 First-Round Pick for Kevin Durant
The 76ers Become The Favorites Thanks To The Greatest Big Three Of All Time
Daryl Morey and the Philadelphia 76ers are hungry for superstars because Joel Embiid needs help on the court due to James Harden’s age. The former MVP is not the same player that could average at least 30 PPG in his prime, and he is mainly a pass-first player who wants to be a third option right now. Could there be a better first (or possibly second?) option than Kevin Durant? Durant is great enough to be the best player on a championship team, but he is also very unselfish and wants to win at all costs. That means he won’t mind feeding Joel Embiid down low and sharing the wealth with James Harden at times.
If Philly acquires Durant, they are the favorites to come out of the Eastern Conference. The 76ers need to find a way to gain an advantage over the other top teams in the East, including the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics, who will be ready to compete again. Of course, the Celtics could still be looking to acquire Durant by sacrificing Jaylen Brown and any other supplementary pieces. The 76ers need to go after KD before Boston acquires him, in that case. In many ways, this is a case of being the first to get to Durant (and the Nets).
As their roster is currently built, nobody will place the 76ers among the top-5 teams in the NBA. Joel Embiid is arguably a top-5 player in the world, but his injury history is questionable, and there are doubts about his ability to lead the team to the Finals as the best player on the team. Not to mention, Harden looked past his prime last year, and he could continue to show his age. They need to make a move to surpass the Bucks and Celtics in the East, while the Clippers, Warriors, and Suns are also better than the 76ers.
But with Kevin Durant on the roster, the 76ers have enough talent and star power to cut the deficit by a ton and actually leapfrog everyone else. It won’t be easy to convince the Nets to take this deal, but it could work out if Daryl Morey does his best convincing. If there is a man who is obsessed with acquiring talent, it is Morey, and he will go all-in to acquire Durant if the 4-time scoring champion is willing to be happy in Philly.
Brooklyn Rebuilds Around A Talented Young Guard
The Brooklyn Nets apparently do not want to tank and start losing on purpose, but they could slightly alter their strategy if they value Tyrese Maxey enough. Maxey is a tremendous talent because he is full of energy and explosiveness and seems to have the right attitude that it takes to become an All-Star one day. The Nets could find another player they can rebound with alongside Ben Simmons.
Not to mention, Maxey and Simmons are both 21 and 26 years old, respectively, and each has the time to reach superstar status, if possible. The Brooklyn Nets might also value Philadelphia’s first-round picks because Harden seems to be in his final seasons, and Embiid could not be a player who magically starts getting healthy next year. As a result, the picks could be valuable when and if the 76ers start declining on the court.
Overall, the Nets want to find the best deal they can possibly find for their franchise star Kevin Durant. Philadelphia will offer a borderline All-Star in Tobias Harris, a defensive wing in Thybulle, and a future All-Star in Maxey. These are three players that can help the Nets return to the playoffs, only if Simmons is healthy, and also give the franchise some picks to build around.
Philadelphia Wins The NBA Championship, Wins This Massive Blockbuster Deal
Tyrese Maxey is a talented young guard with excellent offensive ability, but no question, the 76ers will win this trade because they will form one of the scariest superteams of all time. It seems we keep seeing superteams year after year, but Philly’s would be on another level because Joel Embiid is a superstar big man surrounded by two superstar perimeter players. We have not seen this level of inside-outside talent before, and 76ers fans will hope and pray the Nets value Tyrese Maxey enough to pull the trigger and force Durant to mend any issues he might have with James Harden. Apparently, Durant has no issues with The Beard, which could mean this deal could go through.
Kyrie Irving is a very talented player, but he does not have the impact that Joel Embiid has. Not only due to his size but his willingness to dedicate his time to basketball. The 76ers can basically rebuild the Nets’ big three from last season except by replacing Kyrie with a top-two MVP candidate in Joel Embiid. Luckily for the 76ers, Kevin Durant already has plenty of experience playing alongside Harden in Oklahoma City and also in Brooklyn. That means their connection on the court will be seamless.
Of course, with Harden’s willingness to accept less pay and also accept the third role, Durant will not have to worry about sharing a single ball with other ball-dominant stars anymore. Instead, Durant is the go-to scorer on the perimeter while Embiid gets to eat down low as well. KD loves to play the right way, and there are few better playmakers than James Harden right now. As long as Durant is happy playing basketball, the 76ers will benefit greatly.
Head coach Doc Rivers is also a leader who has managed difficult egos before, from the likes of Kevin Garnett to Kawhi Leonard and Paul George. He could work wonders with Kevin Durant, if possible, and get him to understand that he will be the first option as long as the big man gets his touches down low. Durant is not a selfish player by any means, and he could enjoy competing in the City of Brotherly Love.
Of course, Brooklyn does not get an equal return, but that is expected. No team will offer equal value for the best player in the world, but the Nets could look towards the future if they believe in Maxey and the two first-round picks. Tobias Harris is a win-now player that could also be moved for other assets, so it remains to be seen if Philly can get this deal over the line with the Nets. If this trade does happen, the 76ers are the absolute favorites to win it all while Brooklyn continues to be competitive while also acquiring future assets.
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